ings of the committee, unexcused, shall be deemed a resignation of the members so absent, of his place upon the committee. Any standing Committee of the Association may, by rule, impose upon its members a fine for non-attendance and may provide for the disposition of the fines collected under such rule.

By-Law X repealed July 14, 1910.

XI.

Nominations of candidates to fill the respective offices may be made at the time of election by any member, and as many candidates may be nominated for each office as members may wish to name, but all elections, whether to office or membership must be by balot. A majority of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect to office; but five negative votes shall be sufficient to defeat an election to membership.

XII.

All vacancies in any office or committee of this Association shall be filled by appointment of the President and the persons thus appointed shall hold for the unexpired term of his predecessor; but if a vacancy occur in the office of President, it shall be filled by the Association at its first stated meeting ɔccurring more than ten days after the happening of such vacancy and the person elected shall hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

XIII.

Every member of this Association, except non-resident honorary members, shall pay his annual dues to the Treasurer on the first day of March in each year, and if said dues remain unpaid at the time of the meeting of the Association, following the accrual of such dues, the members so in default shall be dropped from the roll of members.

XIV.

These By-Laws may be amended at any stated, adjourned or annual meeting of the Association by a majority vote of those present.

XV.

Any officer may resign at any time upon settling his accounts with the Association. A member may resign at any time upon the payment of all dues to the Association; and from the date of the receipt by the Secretary of a notice of resignation with an endorsement thereon by the Treasurer that all dues have been paid as above provided, the person giving such notice shall cease to be a member of the Association.

XVI

The offices of Secretary and Treasurer shall be filled by the Secretary, and his annual salary shall be five hundred dollars, one-half of which shall be due on the first day of May, and the other half on the first day of November in each year, but may be paid earlier or at any other time if Executive Committee shall, in writing, so direct, but this shall be in full of all compensation to him. No other officer of the Association shall receive any salary or compensation.

XVII.

The Association shall have its annual meeting at such time and place as the Executive Committee may determine, and continue in session until all the business before it is disposed of. If the President and Executive Committee shall determine that it is necessary for said Association to hold any other meeting, during any year, the same shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Committee may fix, and upon twenty days' notice of such time and place to be given by the Secretary,

by publication in a public newspaper, and the Secretary shall give this notice upon the order of the President.

XVIII.

Each County, City or Local Bar Association of this State may annually appoint delegates, not exceeding two in number, to the next meeting of this Association. Such delegates, if not regular members of this Association, shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership at and during the said meeting except that of voting.

XIX.

No member shall be permitted to speak more than twice on any subject, and in debate, no speech shall exceed ten minutes in length, unless a majority of those present consent thereto.

XX.

The Association shall not take any partisan political action, nor indorse or recommend any person for any official position.

XXI.

The traveling and other necessary expenses incurred by the Special Committee on Violation of Code of Ethics and Law by Attorneys during the interval between the annual meetings of the Association shall be paid by the Treasurer, on the approval and by order of the Executive Committee.

Code of Ethics of the Alabama

State Bar Association

Adopted December 14, 1887.

NOTE. This Code was prepared by a Committee of the Association and is believed to be the first ever adopted. It has been the model for the Code adopted by the American Bar Association and many State Bar Associations.

The Association has had copies of this Code suitably printed on card board, framed and placed on the walls of every Court House in the State.

The purity, and efficiency of judicial administration which under our system is largely governmental itself, depend as much upon the character, conduct, and demeanor of attorneys in this great trust, as upon the fidelity and learning of courts, or the honesty, and intelligence of juries.

"There is perhaps no profession after that of the sacred ministry, in which a high toned morality is more imperatively necessary than that of the law. There is certainly without any exception, no profession in which so many temptations beset the path to swerve from lines of strict integrity; in which so many delicate and difficult questions of duty are constantly arising. There are pitfalls and mantraps at every step, and the mere youth, at the very outset of his career, needs often the prudence and self-denial, as well as moral courage, which belongs commonly to riper years. High moral principle is the only safe guide; the only torch to light his way amidst darkness and obstruction."-Sharswood.

A comprehensive summary of the duties specifically enjoined by law upon attorneys, which they are sworn "not to violate," is found in Section 791 of the Code of Alabama.

These duties are:

"First to support the Constitution and laws of this State and the United States.

"Second-To maintain the respect due courts of justice and judicial officers.

"Third-To employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to them, such means only as are consistent with truth, and never seek to mislead the judges by any false statement of the law.

"Fourth-To maintain inviolate the confidence, and at every peril to themselves to preserve the secrets of their clients.

Fifth-To abstain from all offensive personalities, and to advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or a witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which they are charged.

"Sixth-To encourage neither the commencement nor continuance of an action proceeding from any motive of passion or interest.

"Seventh-Never to reject, for any consideration personal to themselves, the cause of the defenseless and oppressed."

No rule will determine an attorney's duty in the varying phases of every case. What is right and proper must, in the absence of statutory rules and an authoritive code, be ascertained in view of the peculiar facts, in the light of conscience, and the conduct of honorable and distinguished attorneys in similar cases, and by analogy to the duties enjoined by statute, and the rules of good neighborhood.

The following general rules are adopted by the Alabama State Bar Association for the guidance of its members:

1.

Duties of Attorneys to Courts and Judicial Officers.

The respect enjoined by law for courts and judicial offi